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New agreement

The multilateral pact between the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Russia will cover similar areas as the bilateral EU-Russia "Strategic Partnership Treaty (SPT)" also currently under discussion, but with the northern text focusing on oil and gas exploration, protection of fish stocks and the welfare of indigenous people.

The northern treaty will be "less political" than the SPT, EU officials say, avoiding thorny issues such as long-term arrangements for Russian passengers and military equipment transiting through Lithuania to the Russian EU enclave of Kaliningrad.

But some of the topics on the table, such as environment and health, have political implications as Russia's old nuclear submarine fleet rots away in the Kola peninsula and with EU neighbours worried about abnormally high tuberculosis and HIV levels in Kaliningrad.

The new pact might even include a framework for resolving a 35-year old territorial dispute between Norway and Russia over an oil-rich 173,000 square kilometre section of the Barents Sea.

Quotations

1) Mr Erkki TUOMIOJA, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, President-in-Office of Council Presentation on the External Policy Priorities of the Finnish Presidency 12 July 2006, European Parliament, Brussels 12 Jul 2006, 10:00 en (check against delivery, subject to changes)

THE NORTHERN DIMENSION

The renewal of the Northern Dimension is one of our priorities. The negotiation process on a new, permanent, common ND framework document to replace the time-limited strategies has successfully started during the Austrian Presidency. Our aim is that the new framework document and the declaration accompanying it will be finalised and adopted during the Finnish Presidency. We hope that the new common document will strengthen the commitment of all parties and form a good basis for the development of concrete cooperation, including the partnerships. We have been pleased to note that the AFET and the European Parliament are discussing and developing ideas regarding the Northern Dimension and its future. In this respect, the EP resolution of last November was a valuable contribution.

2) http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/speeches/vko28/en_GB/1152634360953/

Speech, General Affairs and External Relations Minister Hannes Manninen at the Committee on Regional Development (REGI)

10 July 2006 11 Jul 2006, 19:26 en fi Ministry of the Interior 10.7.2006 16.00

Distinguished Members,

Finland’s EU Presidency will place particular emphasis on relations with Russia and, in connection with them, the Northern Dimension, which is a central part of EU-Russia cooperation. The Second Northern Dimension Action Plan will, however, expire at the end of this year. As holder of the Presidency, Finland seeks to ensure that the future of the Northern Dimension will be safeguarded. Our aim is for the EU and Russia to adopt a joint Northern Dimension policy. As regards the Northern Dimension, Structural Fund programmes have their role to play in implementing this policy.

3) http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/speeches/press/en_GB/1150877429794/

Speech, Finland´s EU Presidency Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's address to Parliament on 21 June 2006 on Finland's EU Presidency

During the preparatory period, the Government has informed Parliament of its plans and policy definitions on several occasions. The framework for our Presidency is outlined in the Annual Work Programme for 2006, prepared together with Austria and presented last December. The Finnish Government’s general political priorities were outlined in the document “Towards Finland’s Presidency of the European Union”, presented to Parliament last September (2 September, 2005). Specific plans for each sector are presented in the Preliminary Agenda, which has now been updated several times. The latest Preliminary Agenda was submitted to Parliament in May (24 May, 2006). European competitiveness, and the innovation policy in particular, will be the main point on the agenda at the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government in Lahti in October. We will also discuss external energy relations. The President of Russia, Mr Vladimir Putin, has been invited to join the dinner after the meeting. This will give us an opportunity to have an informal discussions together. The EU’s relations with our most important neighbour, Russia, and the Northern Dimension are included in the list of priorities during our term. We believe that we can contribute towards improving relations between the EU and Russia. These cannot be limited to trade and energy but must extend to a broad-ranging partnership, in which we can share our European values and global interests. Our aim is to strengthen Russia’s commitment to European co-operation. In order to succeed, we need more interaction between the EU countries and Russia, student exchange programmes and cultural cooperation. We should put the EU’s relations with Russia on a new footing; a more long- term framework is needed. These issues will be discussed with the objective of reaching agreement on opening negotiations by the end of this year. As regards the Northern Dimension, we have already come a long way: the new political framework agreement will be signed during the coming autumn. It will enable the EU, Russia, Norway and Iceland to work together as equal partners on issues relating to this northern part of the world.

4) http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/speeches/vko27_/en_GB/1152081630727/

Speech, Non-Policy Specific Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at the plenary session of the European Parliament on 5 July 2006

This year, Finland’s own national Parliament, the Eduskunta, is celebrating a special anniversary: one hundred years have passed since the single-chamber Parliament was created and the first elections were held by universal and equal suffrage. At a stroke, everyone – men and women – won the right to vote and stand for election. We are proud of that landmark in the history of democracy. The current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will expire at the end of next year and the new negotiating framework will be discussed during Finland’s Presidency. As regards the Northern Dimension, we have already come a long way: the new political framework agreement will be signed during the coming autumn.

5) http://www.vnk.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/en.jsp?oid=140922

Government Communications Unit 11.11.2005 10.37

Ministers discussed the preliminary agenda for Finland’s EU Presidency Other key issues include the improvement of the Union's capabilities for crisis management, intensification of the transatlantic relations and cooperation between the EU and Russia plus the Northern Dimension. During Finland's Presidency, the intention is to adopt a new political framework document for the Northern Dimension and to focus on the related partnerships.

Further information: Antti Peltomäki, State Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2180

6) http://www.vnk.fi/ajankohtaista/puheet/puhe/en.jsp?oid=157300

Government Communications Unit 8.6.2006 15.00 Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at the 6th Baltic Sea States Summit in Reykjavik

In our region the Northern Dimension of the EU is a developing framework for regional cooperation. We feel confident that we will have a new basic document adopted during our EU presidency outlining the future development of this policy. The main innovation will be that Iceland, Russia and Norway will become equal parties alongside the Union in preparing and implementing the Northern Dimension policy. I am very satisfied with the achievements of the Northern Dimension in the framework of the Environmental Partnership. The South-West Wastewater Treatment Plant in St. Petersburg is the most important single project in the recent years to protect the Baltic Sea. In the near future we should take up the further replenishment of the Environmental Partnership Support Fund. Ladies and gentlemen, In order to strengthen the Northern Dimension we would also like to consider a possibility for new or expanded partnerships. The interest for a partnership in the field of transport and logistics is being surveyed. Such a partnership could focus on northern cross-border infrastructure as well as development of relevant ports, inland navigation as well as efficient logistical chains, trade facilitation and customs procedures. The energy sector is also of great interest. According to my assessment one aspect of this sector could easily be included under the Environmental Partnership. With some modification of the partnership, small and medium sized projects to promote energy efficiency and environmentally friendly energy solutions could be financed, particularly in the municipal services sector.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As I mentioned before, I would like to see progress in the competitiveness of the European Union during our EU presidency. In this connection we will stress issues promoting innovation, in which our region has great potential. Also energy issues are important for the economic growth, competitiveness and well-being of the Baltic region, the EU and Europe as a whole. Finland places particular emphasis on security of supply, renewable energy sources, improving the efficiency of internal electricity and gas markets, energy efficiency and developing external relations on energy. External relations, especially the EU-Russia energy dialogue, should be improved. EU and Russia have a mutual beneficial interdependence and an interest to improve the functioning of the markets. These subjects are to be discussed intensively in the next months. Finland wants to enhance the energy dialogue with Russia. We need to develop the contractual basis in order to support our growing energy cooperation, be it investments, trade or transit.

7) http://www.vnk.fi/ajankohtaista/puheet/puhe/en.jsp?oid=163995

Speech by Ms Paula Lehtomäki, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development and Minister for European Affairs of Finland at the Clingendael Institute of the Netherlands 12 July, 2006

During our Presidency the Northern Dimension will be transformed into a genuinely common policy among the EU, Russia, Norway, and Iceland. This is an important development which I believe will strengthen the commitment of all parties to implementation of the policy. We plan to finalize and adopt a new political document for the Northern Dimension this year. ( N.B. The implementation and further development of the Northern Dimension should be done by fully utilising regional bodies, such as the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the Barents Euro Arctic Council (BEAC). The Commission could also consider contacts with the Arctic Council. However, the Northern Dimension itself should not be seen as a new regional initiative.)

Learn more (in Latvian) -

1) Eiropas Savienības Ziemeļu dimensija

http://www.eiropaskustiba.lv/lv/tematika/696

Sources: Finnish Presidency in the EU, EUobserver, E IV (European information portal - European Movement Latvia)

Keywords: NORTHERN DIMENSION    MIDDLE NORTH    BALTIC SEA REGION     NORWAY   ICELAND   NORTHWEST RUSSIA

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